CMU Bukidnon teacher to study in United Kingdom

A faculty member of Central Mindanao University is among the 8 candidates from various higher education institutions (HEIs) who are now officially accepted to the Newton PhD Scholarships of the Newton Agham Programme, delivered by the British Council in partnership with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

The programme offers full-time PhD scholarships for Filipino researchers at a UK higher education institution. This fulfils the objective of facilitating the capacity building of individuals and the building of sustainable, long-lasting links between the UK and the Philippines.

The Newton Agham Programme is providing £3 million yearly from 2016, including Newton PhD scholarships which the CHED will match with a total of about Php30 million, to develop science and innovation partnerships that promote the economic development and social welfare of the Philippines.

The candidates are John Dale Dianala of the National Institute of Geological Sciences; Peter Paolo Rivera, Marine Science Institute; Dave Buenavista, Central Mindanao University; Jhud Mikhail Aberilla, University of the Philippines Diliman; Luiza Galarion, UP Diliman; Sheen Mclean Cabañeros, University of Santo Tomas; Patrick Simon Perillo, Ateneo de Manila University; and Kevin Jace Miranda from Adamson University. The eight are scheduled to start their PhD study in the next 2-3 months in the UK and are expected to finish their research on identified Philippine priority areas by early 2020.

Research to be conducted by these qualified individuals range from remote sensing and field investigations of the earthquake cycle, modelling of air pollution using artificial neural networks; ethnobotanical knowledge and nutraceutical potentials of indigenous plants from local communities of Mindanao; to exploring the responsibility of non-state actors in international and comparative law for environmental degradation.

CHED leverages on the K to 12 Transition Period from 2016 to 2021 foremost through investing in our best faculty and staff to gain training in the best institutions abroad, so that they can come home later to bringing with them said specialisations to fill gaps in the Philippine sectors and communities, while building sustainable and long-lasting links between the UK and Philippine institutions. Under this scholarship programme, the British Council will be covering tuition costs and bench fees while CHED will be providing living allowance.

The Newton Agham Programme, as delivered by the British Council, provides opportunities for internationalising research and higher education sectors in country, by building capacity of researchers and institutions through international research partnerships with development impact.